Norway Helps Fund Aquaculture Project in Nepal

Krishna Hari Banskota, Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Alf Arne Ramslien, Ambassador of Norway to Nepal, signed the grant agreement at the Ministry of Finance, reports TheHimalayan.

A press release issued said the project aims to improve fish production technologies in environment-friendly manner through scaling up pond fish production, providing trainings to farmers' groups in carp production, enhance NARC fisheries research competence, conduct research on new modern technology for whole-year healthy fish fries production, and fish pellet production.

The project is expected to increase local indigenous fish population into hydropower regulated rivers, thereby helping to improve food security, livelihood, and inclusiveness of poor farmers and women groups in Nepal. About 1,000 households will directly be benefitted.

This project has also considered sustainability aspect through the provision of micro saving schemes and marketing arrangements for the groups involved and covers 10 districts of Terai and mid-hills of Nepal, said Finance Secretary Banskota. The programme will be implemented through Ministry of Agriculture, Nepal Agricultural Research Council with the involvement of Universities of Norway, India, and Nepal.

At the programme, Ambassador Ramslien expressed his confidence that the project would be beneficial to improve the livelihood of the fish farmers and conservation of the bio-diversity.

The Government of Nepal has expressed its sincere appreciations to the Norwegian Government for this assistance and for its keen interest and continued support in the socio-economic development of Nepal.